Method and system for building boats



R. B, PATRICK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUILDING BOATS.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB-20,1919. lfifl yflo Patented June 17, 1919.

I INVENTOR a3 Pdzwaz m: NnRRls PETERS (30., PHDVO-LITHQ. \VASHIHCZTW nR. B. PATRICK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUlLDING BOATS.

APPLICATIONIILED FEB-20,1919.

l 30?; 1 4 iatented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2.

BY (s /M ran 45,0

ATTo EY' rinrrn ROBERT B. PATRICK, OF JAMATCA, NEW YORK.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BUILDING BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed February 20, 1919. Serial No. 278,279.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. PATRICK, a citizen of the United States,residin at Jamaica, in the county of Queens and tate of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Systems forBuilding Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to boat building, and more particularly to thattype of boat in which there is a series of ribs which are rigidly unitedto form the frame or skeleton of the boat hull.

The invention particularly relates to a method and a system forimproving the construction of boats of this type and has for its objectto facilitate the construction and increase the rate of speed at whichboat frames or skeletons can be completed and which enables the entireremoval relatively of the skeleton or frame from the forming means to beparticularly described hereinafter.

According to the usual past and present method of construction of boatsof the said type, the process of assembling the ribs and uniting them intheir final relative position to form the frame of the hull, isdifficult, lengthy and costly. An important object of the invention isto provide a method and system which enables the use of an apparatuswhereby a boat frame or skeleton can be readily and quickly assembledwithout the employment of highly skilled labor, and then relativelyremoved from the assembling means with the result that a multiplicity ofboat frames or skeletons can be assembled in one given mechanismsuccessively and the removed frames or skeletons can then be completedinto finished hulls when removed from the forming means or system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which enables theready removal of the completed frame or skeleton from the formingapparatus.

With these and other objects in view as will be rendered manifest tothose versed in the art, the invention consists in the niethod and thesystem hereinafter particularly describedin the following specifioation, with relation to the embodiment of the lnvention illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is transverse sectionthrough a way showing the substantially completed and formed skeleton orframe of a boat, one of the system forming sections being removed whilethe other is still in place adacent' one side of the skeleton or frame.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a fragmentary portion of the bow of the boat and therespective portion of the forming section, and

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view of a simple form of clamping means tosecure the ribs to the forming surfaces,.in their permanent relativeposition.

In my method and system, a keel 2 may be laid upon a suitable support 3extending longitudinally of the way generally indicated by W, and thestem post and the stern post or transom, not shown, assembled withrespect to the keel 2, after which my forming means for defining theshape of the ribs indicated at R, are moved into position against thesupport 3 or along the side of the keel 2 to be ready to receive theribs.

I prefer to form or construct or design my forming means in a pluralityof laterally separable sections or organizations for the purpose offacilitating the removal of the completed skeleton of the boat and thesmall sections with respect to one another with a lateral motion as thisenables the respective separation in easy manner when the boat hull orskeleton is of the type known as having a tumble home stern structure,which obviously makes it impossible to re move the frame by verticallylifting it from the supporting and forming means. There fore, in theembodiment of the invention herein illustrated, I have shown a moldsystem comprising a plurality of sections, in this case one section oneach side being sufli-, cient for the construction of one type ,of,boat, and each of these sections is provided with a series oflongitudinal stringers 4, 5 and 6, the lowermost of which forms thebilge shaping" members, and the upper stringer 6' on each sectiondefines the osition and contour of the sheer-strake atthe upper portionof the skeleton.- Any number of intermediate stringers may be employedas the size of the frames and other contingencies makes necessary ordesirable. To secure coordinate movement of the elements of eachsection, stringers a, 5 and 6 respectively are mounted upon any suitablerigid organization here shown as comprising vertical. standards 8suitably spaced and of suitable proportions and design and material andare connected by longitudinal means 9. Then these sections on each sideof the keel and support 3 are disposed in juxtaposition therewith, thesections are securely and rigidly fastened together by any suitablemeans, here shown as in the form of bolts 10, in respective brackets 11secured to the bottom portion of the mold sections. Preferably thesections are mounted upon rollers 11 designed to travel upon tracks 12for ease of operation in being moved toward and from their positions atthe keel of the boat. To facilitate the re moval of the completedskeleton, away from the construction position at the mold system, I haveshown the keel support 3 as mounted upon a truck 15 having wheels 16running upon rails 17 in the trenchor pit 18. The upper surface of thetruck 15 is provided with tracks 12 to aline with the tracks 12 so thatthe Wheeled sections of the mold can be run onto the track for use inthe construction of a skeleton.

After the mold organizations have been assembled rigidly against thekeel support orthe keel, the ribs R are then placed upon the uppersurface of the keel 2. Their curvature is defined by bending themdownwardlv and outwardly against the longitudinal forming stringers 4L,5 and 6 of each of the sections and their permanent spacing and locationis determined by the position of the clamps 21, or other fastening orsecuring means. Any suitable, simple and practicable means may beutilized to secure the bent ribs in position against their supportingsurfaces in the mold section until the skeleton is properly reinforcedand braced, and in Fi f I have illustrateda simple fastening or clampingdevice comprising a lever 20 having an eccentric or wedged face 21designed to be forced against the adjacent face of the rib R, this leverhaving a pin or bolt passing through a hanger 22, the bolt beingindicated at 21, and being removable if desired. To provide for theclearance of the rib R when the mold section is to be removed laterallyaway from the completed skeleton, the hanger 22 may be swung about apivot as indicated at 23 when the wedge or clamp member 21 is released.After the ribs have been properly assembled and shaped and while theyare still secured to the forming section, stringers 25 may be laid alongthe ribs and temporarily or permanently secured. The cap or sheer-strake7 also may be applied and its position will be defined by the locationof the upper mold stringer 6 on each of the mold sections. After thestrake 7 has been applied the inside clamp 26 may be applied to the ribsand secured to the same and to the strake 7. The skeleton thus formedmay be reinforced or braced by permanent stringers 25, earlines or deckbeams 27 or other desired rib-uniting or deck or cabin-forming members,after which the frame is ready to be removed from the mold system. Themold sections are thereafter disconnected and moved laterally on thetracks 12 and 12; the skeleton is then rolled away on its tracks 15 tobe completed into the finished hull at some other station in the plant,and the mold sections are then ready to be moved back again intoposition for another operation.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a simple,practicable and inexpensive method and system for the construction of ahull frame or skeleton, and have partially eliminated the requirementfor expert or skilled help in the construction of the frame of boats ofthis type, and have provided a system which includes means by whichsimilar frames may be successively erected and then removed to someother station for the completion of the hull, and therefore haveprovided for the construction of a number of skeletons of boats at a lowcost and in a maximum quantity in a given length of time.

The term boat as used in the specification and claims is intended toinclude other analogous constructions as for instance the bodies ofhydroaeroplanes.

It is understood that various modifications, alterations, changes indesign of constructionand arrangements of parts may be resorted towithin the spirit of my invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the typehaving bent ribs, comprising a plurality of mold sections com plementaryto the exterior of the frame and having means for clamping the bendableribs sitar against the forming surfaces, said sections being severallybodily laterally removable from the frame when the clamping means hasbeen released from the ribs.

2. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the typehaving bent ribs, comprising a complementary set of mold sectionsdesigned to be bodily shifted into uxtaposition to each other onopposite sides of the boat keel position, each section having formingsupports upon which the ribs may be laid and therebv shaped from stem tostern; means for clamping the ribs in sgtu to the supports whereby theribs assume their permanent relative position in the completed hull,means for defining'the position of 'the' sheer'strake and allowing itspermanent unlon wlth the frame;and means llIlll'jing the ribspermanently in their ultimate positions; the sections being laterallyremovable when the clamping means are released to permit the removal ofthe completed frame.

Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the type havingbent ribs, comprising a way in Which a keel and the stem and sternelements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides of theway and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem andstern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of theribs as applied; and clamp means for securing the ribs in site to theforming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has beencompleted to the desired extent so as to permit the relativelongitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that thelatter may be immediately employed for use in construction of anotherskeleton while the one just removed may be under further process ofconstruction or otherwise disposed of.

4. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the typehaving bent ribs, comprising a way in which a keel and the stem andstern elements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides ofthe way and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem andstern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of theribs as applied; clamp means for securing the ribs in situ to theforming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has beencompleted to the desired extent, so as to permit the relativelongitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that thelatter may be immediately employed for use in construction of anotherskeleton while the one just removed may be under further process ofconstruction or otherwise disposed of, and a carriage in the way uponwhich the keel may be laid.

5. Apparatus for the construction of the frames of boats of the typehaving bent ribs, comprising a way in which a keel and the stem andstern elements may be set up; skeleton forming sections at the sides ofthe way and which are movable into positions along the keel and stem andstern, said sections constructed and arranged to define the shape of theribs as applied; clamp means for securing the ribs in situ to theforming sections, these being bodily removable after the frame has beencompleted to the desired extent so as to permit the relativelongitudinal displacement of the skeleton and the mold and so that thelatter may be immediately employed for use in construction of anotherskeleton while the one just removed may be under further process ofconstrucranged todefine the desired hull shape and onto which the ribsmay be seated and thereby formed; means for temporarily securing theribs in permanent form and place during theconstruction of the frame;and means for bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations fromeach side of the frame to permit withdrawal of the same.

7. A boat buildingsystem comprising a way with a keel bed on which thekeel may be laid; a movable truck on which the keel bed is mountedadapted to be shifted after completion of the boat frame; sets oflongitudinal stringers arranged to define the desired hull shape andonto which the ribs may be seated and thereby formed; means fortemporarily securing the ribs in situ for a desired period; and meansfor bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations from each side ofthe frame to permit withdrawal of the same.

8. A boat building system comprising a way with a keel bed on which thekeel may be laid; a movable truck on which the keel bed is mountedadapted to be shifted after completion of the boat frame; sets oflongitudinal stringers arranged to define the de sired hull shape andonto which the ribs may be seated and thereby formed; means fortemporarily securing the ribs in sz'tu for a desired period; and meansfor bodily moving the stringers in rigid organizations from each side ofthe frame to permit withdrawal of the same while still intact on thetruck, by shifting of the latter.

9. The method of constructing boats which consists in bending the ribsto shape and position upon an exterior defining mold which is made insections laterally movable from the sides of. the frame; securing theribs to a keel and clamping them to the mold structure; longitudinallyand transversely permanently staying the ribs; releasing the clampingmeans; and then laterally removing the sections and separating the framefrom the mold so that the former may be further operated upon withoutoccupying the mold.

10. The method of constructing boats which consists in bending the ribsto shape and position upon an exterior defining mold which is made insections laterally movable from the sides of the frame; securing theribs to a keel and clamping them to the mold structure; longitudinallyand trans versely staying the ribs; releasing the clamping means; andthen laterally removing the sections and separating the frame from theribs, comprising a complementary set of mold sections designed to bebodily shifted into juxtaposition on opposite sides of the boat keelposition; means for securing the sections in such place and holding themwhile the frameisbeing erected; and means for-clamping the ribs in theirbent form in the moldsections until they areiotherwvise secured in theframing, whereupon the clamping means are disengaged from the ribs andthe sectionsrernoved.

In testnnony whereof I afiix my slgnature.

ROBERT 3B. 1 PATRICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh,by addressingthe ,Cox nmissi oner of Batents, Washington, D. G.

